Folding trunk.



No. 847,171. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907;

F. L. A. ,EIGHBLBERGER.

FOLDING TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY10.1906.

FREDERICK L. A. EICHELBERGER, OF McKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed July 10, 1906. Serial No. 325,473.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. A. EIGHELBERGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at McKees Rocks, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Trunks, of which the following is a'specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmg.

This invention relates to folding trunks and its object is to provide a trunk of simple and inexpensive construction which may be compactly folded into small compass when not required for use and stored in a closet or other convenient place.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing, 'which forms part of this specification, and its novel features will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in per spective of a trunk constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the front and sides of the trunk disconnected. Fig. 2 is a central transverse vertical section of the trunk in unfolded position ready for use. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the trunk as it appears when folded, and Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the folding tray removed from the trunk. Fig. 5 is a detail of a portion of the bottom of the tray and one of the folding side members. Fig. 6 is a detail of a portion of the bottom of the tray and one of' the folding end members.

The reference numeral 1 designates the back of the trunk, to the upper edges of which is hinged the lid 2 by hinges 3. The inner surface of the back 1 is formed With a longitudinal recess 4, extending nearly throughout the length of the back section and adapted to receive tray-supporting cleats 5, projecting from the inner surfaces of the end sections 6 of the trunk, said end sections being hinged to the ends of the back by hinges 7.

The bottom of the trunk consists of two sections 8 and 9, the section 8 being a narrow strip hinged to the lower edge of the back 1, while the section 9 is wider and is secured to the front edge of the section 8 by a double hinge 10, which also serves to secure the strip 8 to the back.

The front 11 is secured to the front edge of the bottom by hinges 12. Suitable fastening devices are provided for detachably securing the ends to the trunk-bottom and the front to the end sections. I have shown in the drawings hooks 13 secured to the inner sides of the end sections and adapted to engage eyes 14, projecting from the bottom of the trunk. Similar hooks 15 are provided at near each corner of the front to engage eyes 1 6, projecting from the inner sides ofthe ends.

The numeral 17 designates a tray-bottom having sides 18 and ends 19 hinged thereto, said sides and ends being detachably connected by hooks 20 and eyes 21, as shown. The sides 18 of the tray are secured to the bottom 17 by hinges 18 (shown in full lines in Fig. 4,) secured to the upper surface of the bottom and the inner surfaces of the sides to permit the latter to be folded inward above the bottom. The ends 19 of the tray are secured by hinges 19*, (shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 4,) secured to the under surface'of thebottom and the outer surfaces of the ends 19 to permit the latter to fold under the bottom, as shown in Fig. 3.

The manner of securing the parts of the trunk together in unfolded position is obvious from the illustration in Figs. 1 and 2. When it is desired to fold the trunk to the position shown in Fig. 3, the fastening devices connecting the end sections to the front and the bottom are disconnected and the tray removed. The end sections 6 are then folded against the back, so that the cleats 5 will fit into the recess 4. The front 11 is then folded upon the bottom section 9, and the latter is folded to the position shown in Fig. 3. The tray-sections 18 and 19 are then folded, and the tray is placed upon the bottom 9, and the lid 2 is closed to cover the whole. It will be apparent that when thus folded the trunk may be stored away in any convenient place, occupying but little space.

The trunk is provided with the usual end handles 22 and front lock 23, as shown.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding trunk comprising a back section having a longitudinal recess in its inner side, a lid hinged to the back, end sections hinged to the ends of the back and having cleats to fit said recess, a bottom hinged to the back, a front hinged to the bottom, fastenings for detachably connecting the ends to the bottom, and the front to the ends, and a removable tray.

2. A folding trunk comprising a back section, a lid hinged to the back, end sections hinged to the ends of the back, a bottom comprising tWo sections hinged to each other and to the back, a front section hinged to the front edge of the bottom, and fastenings for detachably connecting the ends to the bottom, and the front to the ends. 3. A folding trunk comprising a back section having a longitudinal recess on its inner side, a lid hinged to the back, end sections hinged to the ends of the back and each having a tray-supporting cleat adapted to fit said recess, a bottom comprising two sections of difierent Width hinged together, one of I said bottom sections being also hinged to the back, a front section hinged to the bottom, I5 means for detachably securing the ends to the bottom, and the front to the ends, and a removable tray having folding ends and sides.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

FREDERICK L. A. EICHELBERGER.

Witnesses:

MAX H. SRoLov1Tz, E. E. POTTER. 

